I've uninstalled Facebook and stopped reading / watching the news. I read HN and a few local subreddits via RSS. I do feel much better mentally.
I would, however, like a way to be informed of breaking news. I tried a few apps but their idea of "breaking" news often involved celebrity gossip. I really only want to know if its MAJOR: war breaks out, aliens land and make contact, fusion is finally perfected and we're all no longer required to labor 40 hours a week.
My current solution is basically: if something major happens my wife tells me about it.
Wikipedia current events page is your friend. It has a executive summary of about the last week or two and then a daily breakdown if you want more detail
I sort of took your route but I do get an axios "news in 5 minutes" type of email every morning. I also get a similar one for local news which I do feel a need to stay on top of
I had this exact issue. Over time your irl social network (like your wife) cotton on that you're not in the loop and they'll contact you to tell you about things they think you're interested in. So not only is there better curation going on but you're also strengthening your bond with real people around you.
I would, however, like a way to be informed of breaking news. I tried a few apps but their idea of "breaking" news often involved celebrity gossip. I really only want to know if its MAJOR: war breaks out, aliens land and make contact, fusion is finally perfected and we're all no longer required to labor 40 hours a week.
My current solution is basically: if something major happens my wife tells me about it.